1886
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Washerwomen is a 1886 chalk by Félicien Rops, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows five women by a rocky riverbank. They’re bent over, washing clothes in the water. One woman holds a basket, another sits on a rock, and the background has trees and hills. The lines are loose and sketchy, with some shading to show folds in their clothes. The artist used a mix of ink and chalk to create texture, almost like a quick study. The scene feels everyday but also a little mysterious. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this make prints.
Félicien Victor Joseph Rops (French: ; 7 July 1833 – 23 August 1898) was a Belgian artist associated with Symbolism, Decadence, and the Parisian fin de siècle, and was a member of the Les XX group.
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